NEWS

Stewpot Scam

New tonight, a Jackson charity has closed two of its centers and laid off employees because it's low on money.

Updated: 10:39 PM CDT Jul 23, 2013

Advertisement

Advertisement

Share

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Stewpot Scam

New tonight, a Jackson charity has closed two of its centers and laid off employees because it's low on money.

Updated: 10:39 PM CDT Jul 23, 2013

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

Stewpot Scam

New tonight, a Jackson charity has closed two of its centers and laid off employees because it's low on money.

Updated: 10:39 PM CDT Jul 23, 2013

Share

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Advertisement

WEBVTT NEW TONIGHT... A JACKSON-CHARITYHAS CLOSED TWO OF ITS CENTERSAND LAID-OFF EMPLOYEES --BECAUSE IT'S LOW ON-MONEY.STEWPOT COMMUNITY SERVICESSAYS IT LOST THOUSANDS-OF-DOLLARS IN A HOLIDAY-SCAM.16 WAPT'S ERIN KELLY IS LIVE INJACKSON WITH THE FALL-OUT.ERIN...ABOUT A HUNDRED MEN AND WOMENCOME HERE TO SHOWER, STAY OUT OFTHE HEAT, APPLY FOR JOBS. BUTNOW IT WILL ONLY BE OPEN THREEHOURS A DAY -- BECAUSE OF MONEYTROUBLES THAT STARTED WITH AMAIL SCAM.THE SIGN ON SIMS HOUSE TELLSTHE STORY OF A CHARITY --STRUGGLING TO GET BY. STEWPOTCOMMUNITY SERVICES ISTEMPORARILY CLOSING THE JACKSONMINISTRY FOR WOMEN AND KIDSBECAUSE IT'S LOW ON MONEY. REV.FRANK SPENCER - STEWPOTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - "BECAUSE OFTHE DECREASED CASH FLOWS DURINGTHE SUMMER, IT'S GOT US TO APOINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVETO TEMPORARILY CLOSE TWO OF OURMINISTRIES." DIRECTOR FRANKSPENCER SAYS STEWPOT IS STILLFEELING THE STING OF A MAIL SCAMOVER THE HOLIDAYS THAT COST THEMABOUT 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS. REV.FRANK SPENCER - STEWPOTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - "APPARENTLYTHEY TOOK THIS MAIL THAT WASGOING TO STEWPOT BEFORE WE EVERSAW IT AND USED ACCOUNT NUMBERSOF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD SENTCHECKS." ANOTHER BUILDING --STEWPOT'S OPPORTUNITY CENTER --SHOWS NEW HOURS ON THE DOOR.NORMALLY OPEN 6-4 -- IT'S NOWCUTTING BACK TO THREE HOURS ADAY. "WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?" "IWISH I COULD TELL YOU, ERIN, IDON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOINGTO GO NOW." "IT'S NOT ONLYGETTING OUT OF THE HEAT ANDGETTING OUT OF THE COLD, IT'SALSO LOOKING FOR JOBS." THEDIRECTOR OF GATEWAY RESCUEMISSION SAYS THE CUTBACKS WILLHAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THECOMMUNITY. REX BAKER - GATEWAYRESCUE MISSION - "WE NEED MOREPLACES LIKE THAT OPEN, NOTCLOSING DOWN, SO IT'S TOUGHNEWS." "IT'S VERY BUSY RIGHTNOW. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OFPEOPLE." REV. FRANK SPENCER -STEWPOT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - "ITREALLY DISAPPOINTS ME THATPEOPLE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OFOTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THEKIND PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTE TOHELP PEOPLE IN NEED."STEWPOT HAS HAD TO LAY OFF 15PART TIME STAFF MEMBERS. AND 25WORKERS WILL HAVE TO TAKE AFURLOUGH DAY EACH PAY PERIOD.THEY SAY THEY STILL NEED ABOUT80-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET BACKTO NORMAL.